Literally Blogging

I enjoy books from other languages, other cultures, and in particular, early Christian writings. Unfortunately, if you can’t read the book in its original language (I can’t), it loses some of its flavor. Much of the intensity and power of these books are due to the writer’s use of language – appropriate to that period of time, but as they say, “It’s all Greek to me.” The key in reading and understanding, as well as becoming emotionally involved with such a book is the translator.

I found a wonderful translator, and in doing so, found a wonderful author and warm human being. Her name is Mirabai Starr. I have her translations of:

• Dark Night of the Soul, by St. John of the Cross

  
  “Souls begin to enter this dark night once God draws them forth from the state of the beginners, who merely muse about the spiritual path, and places them in the state of the adepts, the true contemplatives. This is the start of a journey that will lead to the blessed place of perfection, which is the divine union of the soul with God.”

• The Interior Castle, by St. Teresa of Avila
  “Sometimes, when the soul is in prayer, the Beloved will suddenly suspend her senses and reveal deep secrets to her. These are not visions of his sacred humanity. The soul is seeing into God himself. I use the term “seeing,” but it is not a visual revelation; it is a transcendental vision. What is revealed to the soul is that all things can be seen in God because God has all things inside himself.”

These translations are wonderful. They have brought a freshness into work that is so meaningful for people worldwide. The messages of St. John and St. Teresa are not limited to followers of the Catholic faith – they are intended for all and now, due to Mirabai Starr’s work, are available to all in deeply beautiful translations.

Mirabai Starr – Official Web Site

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